Did you hear the one about the atheist who walked into the 12-step program? (Hint: he didn’t find God) by Peter   I'm writing this story to give outsiders a sense of what goes on in the 12-step programs. I know that when I was first considering attending one of these programs, I was very wary and skeptical, particularly given that I am an atheist and I knew that there was a lot of stuff about a “higher power.” I ended up doing a year in program, six months of hard time, and six months of...

What was Monica thinking? Peter A. Hempel   I noticed the other day a tabloid story that Monica Lewinsky was seeking help for her sex addiction problems.  She was checking out the 12-step sex addiction programs, but felt, not unreasonably, that she wouldn’t actually have much hope of confidentiality there.   In the meantime, however, she has been moving forward.  She has thrown all her thongs, peek-a-boo bras, split-crotch panties, etc. into the garbage, and is shifting to conservative...

Europe’s “far right” is not America’s far right Infidels have rights, too Peter A. Hempel – 11/04/25 There is a lot of alarm these days about how Trump and Trumpism are part of global rise of the “far right,” particularly in Europe. But I’m wondering if we are missing some fundamental differences between the US and Europe. Trumpism is economically far right, bankrolled by dark money billionaires and the Heritage Foundation, culminating in Project 2025 – at least for now. Its goals are to cut...